Very little info - where to start?

[jane k]

We know very little about my father in law`s war experience other than that he spent time right at the end of the war in Palestine and Kenya "mapping" - so presumably in the Royal Engineers.  We have a few photos from that time but no service information or medals.
His name was John Kerby born 1/9/1922 in Meriden, Warwickshire.  He was from a farming family so may have been in a reserved occupation before joining up.
I don`t currently have access to Ancestry or Findmypast so it would be really helpful to know if there is any information about him online before I pay to search records.
Many thanks

[rosie99]

WW2 records are now held at TNA (The National Archives) and are being digitised
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/british-army-soldiers-in-service-after-1918/

[jane k]

Thanks for that.  Following your link I`ve done a search but no luck.  I`ll keep looking

[ALAMO2008]

As WW2 Records are Not available online- you have to apply for his Records
You have his Date of Birth though it wasn't Registered till December Quarter 1922 Meriden
Mother's Maiden Name =  Cutler
He married Beryl Lynes in Rugby 1953

Good Luck

https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-records-of-service/apply-for-the-records-of-a-deceased-serviceperson

[Bookbox]

The WW2 service records are in the process of being transferred to TNA. They are not all there yet!

When you apply for a British Army record (using the link in reply #3 above), the MoD will check if they hold it. If they do, they’ll send it to you. If they don't, you’ll be told to apply to TNA.

Records already at TNA are subject to Freedom of Information regulations, which greatly slows the application/delivery process. There is currently a wait of up to about 18 months for army records, and they normally arrive in redacted form. TNA are working hard to speed up the process, but they are very understaffed.

Royal Navy and RAF records are generally quicker. Some RAF records were digitised by the MoD before the transfer began, and they may be sent out by the MoD within a week or two.

Most of the WW2 service records will eventually be digitised by Ancestry, who have already started the work.

For more detailed information on the background to the transfer and delivery of these records, please see ...

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/our-role/plans-policies-performance-and-projects/our-projects/ministry-of-defence-service-records/

[jane k]

Thanks very much for all of that.
Does anyone know if everybody who served during the War was awarded a medal?  My husband has no recollection of seeing any medals and there certainly weren`t any when the house was cleared after his parents` deaths

[Bookbox]

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/medals-campaigns-descriptions-and-eligibility#world-war-2-medals

[jane k]

Thanks very much.  Having now read about the "eligibility for medals"  I think he may not have done enough to qualify.  We know he was overseas either right at the end of the War or just after, and he wasn`t anywhere there was ongoing conflict

[Jebber]

Because you had to apply for your WW2 Medals not everyone who qualified bothered, some objected because unlike WW1 they were not automatically issued and also they were not stamped with the recipients details like the WW1 Medals. I had a relative who refused to apply for his, his wife applied after he died.